Hike to Ambalakanda-අම්බලකන්ද(920m) and Galhenagala-ගල්හේනගල

Year and Month	2018 March 03^rd
Number of Days	One
Crew	Two-Nuwan and Myself
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	By bus and hiking
Activities	Hiking, Trekking, Sightseeing and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo->Mawanella->Dippitiya->Mount Camel tea factory-> Ambalakanda->Beriwila (බෙරිවිල)-> Patithalawala (පටිතලවල)->Galhenagala->Malgolla (මල්ගොල්ල)-> Asupini Ella->Aranayaka->Mawanella
Tips, Notes and Special remark	First bus from Mawanella to Mount Camel junction starts at 7.05am. (Ganthuna bus) There is a mortable road from Mount Camel tea factory to the base of the mountain. We followed a short cut to cut the distance of this road. This road can be tackled with a bike or threewheeler. Always clarify the path from locals. There are different water sources on your way up. Can fill up the bottle. Only one or two buses coming to Beriwila from Gampola side. Get directions to Galhenagala from villagers at Patithalawala. It is about 30-45minutes hike through a Mana patch but worth compared to the view. There is a foot path from Malgolla to Asupini Ella, bit difficult to trace.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Hike to Ambalakanda-අම්බලකන්ද (920m) and Galhenagala-ගල්හේනගල (660m)

Ambalakanda is a mountain situated at Dotel Oya-Aranayaka area. It’s name derived by “Anbala”-ආන් බල +”Kanda” කන්ද->Ambalakanda. My repeated visits to Dotel Oya (දෝතල් ඔය) and Aranayaka areas lead to hike this mountain. First it drew my attention when I visited at Sandaraja Wana Arana. Ambalakanda raised on our right hand side when we passed Mount Camel tea factory. We were able to locate this mountain from Kodigala as well. Therefore it was in our To-do-list and time came to visit there.

As usual my regular travel partner-Nuwan joined with me at Mawanella. We got into first Dotel Oya bus at Mawanella at last moment. Our trail head was Mount Camel tea factory. My plan was to follow the road starts from tea factory and reach the peak of the mountain. Again Google map was our guide. It was a special day to Mount Camel tea factory as they were celebrating the anniversary with a Pirith ceremony. We got directions to Ambalakanda once we got down at junction.

The concrete road next to the tea factory goes to Ingurugala (ඉගුරුගල) area and at one point it passes the base of Ambalakanda. The morning was clear and surrounding peaks were visible on our way up. We found a shortcut to reach the upper end of this tarred road where it has become a gravel road.

Now we are at the base of Ambalakanda and we have conquered a major part of the mountain by walking along concrete road and foot pathway. Then we followed left hand side foot path to reach the peak of Ambalakanda.

Ambalakanda (920m). This was taken from Kodigala.

Good Morning. Starting of the journey.

Get blessings….. This shrine was found at beginning of the road. So this might be a foot pathway sometimes ago and became a road.

It’s a scenic road…

Our old destination-Kodigala

Perfect weather

Morning sun rays…

After about 500m along tarred road we turned to the short cut.

Walk along the edge of pinus patch

Initial tarred road became a gravel road now.

A place to rest

Pinus patch

දළු

Now it has become a common findings in my captures

Tea patch

Winding main foot pathway

Top of Ambalakanda is seen

ඉසින ජලසම්පාදනය

Left- Kukulpitiya Kanda (future destination). Right-Kodigala (old destination).

Moratiyawatta Kanda. Right in front of Ambalakanda.

Back to main road and junction. This is the highest point of the road and it’s like a pass. Black line shows our way from Mount Camel tea factory. Red arrow is the foot pathway to Ambalakanda peak. Yellow arrow shows the descend to Ingurugala area. And it’s the border of two provinces. We are entering to central province from Sabaragamuwa.

This picture was taken when I was at Kodigala. This shows our trail head, approximate foot path, two peaks of Ambalakanda and Asupini Ella.

Click image to enlarge. Black star shows the trail head where Mount Camel Tea factory situated. My wild guess is correct as there is no road shows in this old map, only a foot path is marked by lines. Brown star is Ambalakanda peak we reached. There are two peaks. Note provincial margin. Blue star is Galhenagala. Blue circle shows Asupini Ella.

We followed the footpath towards the peak of Ambalakanda. First it ascends through a tea patch then entered the forest patch. There was a clear footpath which indicates frequent visits of villagers. We have reached a place with flat slab rock where a pond is situated. Next to this pond another flat rocky area was noted. Seems this flat rock is the highest point of Ambalakanda. We walked further into the forest and edges of the mountain to find a good view point. We were not able to find a good view point except the one towards Inguruoyawatta. The view towards Inguruoya area was superb including backdrop of Raxawagala (2^nd highest of Dolosbage range) and Kabaragala (highest of Dolosbage range). Ambuluwawa and Watakedeniyakanda (වැටකදෙණියාව කන්ද) are also seen from this view point.

Foot pathway to Ambalakanda

Foot pathway we followed

On the way up….

View of Moratiyawatta Kanda. People called it Mahamukalana (මහමූකලාන).

View of Kodigala and Samasara Kanda

Slab rock with pond

ඕලු

Supposed to be the highest point of Ambalakanda

Someone has camped there

Enter the forest. Not-there are clear foot pathways into the forest

Creepers

Somehow found a view point towards Ingurugala estate

Tea factory of Ingurugala estate

Estate road to Ingurugala estate

Drone view of abundant estate house at base of Ambalakanda

Estate road and foot pathway join together

Cooperative shop of Ingurugala Estate

View of Kabaragala and Raxawagala

Zoomed view of Kabaragala-left. A part of Moratiyakanda in right hand side.

Towards Ambuluwawa

Watakedeniyakanda

Another rock with flat surface

After enjoying the view from Ambalakanda we got down and followed the gravel road towards Ingurugala estate. Our plan was to reach Gampola via Ingurugala estate. After talking with estate workers we got to know few information about Ambalakanda. There is a Hindu shrine at rock surface of the mountain. As the forest has Wallapatta (වල්ලපට්ටා) trees villagers frequently visit there.

The view of Ingurugala estate was superb. We walked down along the estate road and came to Beriwila junction where bus comes. It was a small junction surrounded by line houses and few boutiques. As bus has not arrived yet, we walked further down along the road to enjoy the view and noted a rock with flat surface. Though we asked from few villagers nobody knows the name of that rock, but we wanted to climb it. Later we changed our mind and continued the journey to Patithalawala. Closer to Patithalawala we again noted another rock with flat surface and got to know it’s name as Galhenagala. It was tempting. This time Nuwan and myself wanted to fulfill our desire and got direction to get on this rock.

How Ambalakanda is seen to Ingurugala estate.

The gap we have passed.

Scenic estate road at Ingurugala estate

Ingurugala estate

View from Ingurugala estate

Place of landslide happened.

Place of landslide happened. Beautiful view towards Aranayaka.

Continued along the estate road

Alagalla

Range of mountains at Mawanella and Aranayaka.

Moving away from Ambalakanda

Bathalegala and Uthuwankanda

Galhenagala. This is the way we followed to reach the top of Galhenagala

We saw it. We conquered it! Galhenagala

Galhenagala is situated at Galhena colony closer to Asupini Falls. This rock has globular shape with flat top with 360 degree surrounding. We got the road situated just in front of Patithalawala sub post office and reached closer to the tea estate at base of the rock. Then we had to tackle a short Mana patch to reach the sloping rock surface. After about 5-10 minutes ascend along the rock we reached the top of Galhenagala. It was another view point of Asupini Falls which was margined by Rahala Gala and Watakedeniya. Ambuluwawa is popped up behind Rahala Gala. Ambalakanda, Morathiya Estate Mountain, Alagalla, Mawanella town, Dippitiya area and Dolosbage range were seen from Ambalakanda. If you can carry water it is a nice camping place on slab rock.

After enjoying the view on Ambalakanda we got down to the tea patch on other side. Then we followed the estate road up to Malgolla. There was a foot pathway to Asupini Ella (short cut) from Malgolla. It was the end of one day journey to Ambalakanda.